Do you have to follow a gluten-free diet? It is difficult to eat out when you have to adhere to a gluten-free diet. There are some restaurants that carry gluten-free desserts but they are few and far between. I have noticed, however, that the store IKEA always has a gluten-free cake in their cafe.

In addition to staying away from gluten I also try to stay away from refined white sugar. In order to succeed at my gluten-free goal I make my own cakes , pies, and pastries. The recipe shown below for Gluten-Free Hazelnut Cake is tried and true. I used this cake for my flourless gluten-free wedding cake as well as for my sister’s gluten-free wedding cake. It was a hit!

Flourless Hazelnut Cake Recipe: Gluten-Free Cake Recipe

3 cups hazelnuts

8 eggs, separated, at room temperature

1 cup raw sugar

• Preheat oven to 300oF.
• Grind the hazelnuts, 1 cup at a time, in a blender or a food processor and set aside.
• Beat egg yolks and raw sugar until creamy.
• Fold in ground hazelnuts.
• Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into hazelnut mixture.
• Pour into a large (10″ diameter) lined and greased spring-form pan and bake for 1 hour, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• When cool, ice with melted chocolate chips or melted carob chips.

If you prefer to have a more substantial icing for the gluten-free cake you can use this carob or chocolate icing:

Gluten-Free Carob or Chocolate Icing

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup unsweetened carob or chocolate chips

4 tbsp honey

• Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and melt over low heat on the stove, stirring occasionally.
• Cool slightly before spreading on the cooled cake or squares.

Gluten-Free Recipes

Monica Levin is a holistic nutritionist and food intolerance expert. Visit our store to purchase her gluten-free recipe books.

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